Index



' 2v Sneqt-sheet sa..v 0. M. DAYTN. INDEX, f PatentedJune"-7,- 188-7f. i

No. l364-;333.

(Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo OSCAR M. DAYTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364:,338l dated .Tune 7, 1887.

Application filed June 25, issn. sei-iai No. 206,222.' (Model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR M. DAYTON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indexes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersfof reference marked thereon, which form a part oftliis specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bound indexes, intended to adapt them to be used with equal convenience by either the left or the right hand; and it consists, primarily, in the provision of two sets of exposed initial indexed letters applied to the outer folios of each group of sheets devoted to a letter orletters of the alphabet.

It also consists in the provision of two sets of cutaways for the exposure of letters showing the subordinate classifications of the several indexed names or titles, said cutaways being arranged to run one upward and the other` downward from the several corresponding tabs. Y

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one application of my invention, Figure l shows an index opened by the right hand at subdivision Ha., (Harrison, Hamilton, Ste.)

Fig. 2 shows the same opened by the left hand at HW., Hy., (Hyland, Hyde, Ste.) Fig. 3 shows the same opened with either the right or left hand at Hi., (Hinlnan, Higgins, 8vo!) Fig. 4 shows the group of leaves devoted to the letter H, detached, and illustrates the manner in which the tabs are applied and the two sets of cutaways are made and applied.

A A are lettered tabs to be used by the right hand, and A A are correspondingly-1ettered tabs to be used by the left hand, in opening the index. These tabs are located, the one for use by the right hand at the front of the alphabetical division to which it refers, the other,

for left-hand use, at the end of such division. In order to properly open the index with either hand it is necessary that the tab or lettered projection for use by the right 5 hand should be applied to the second or right-hand leaf of the first folio of its group, (sce Fig. 1,) and the one for use by the left hand to the first or left-hand leaf of the last folio of its group.

(See Fig. 2.) By this arrangement of the lettered projections or tabs the index is opened at the extreme commencement or ending of a group of all pages devoted'to the given letter, and from either of these points all the subdia visions of the group are presented to view by means of the cutaways.

B indicates the cutaway leading from the tab used by the right hand, and B that leading from thetab used by the left hand. These cutaways B and B of eachgroup of sheets run in opposite directions, and, as herein shown, those for righthanduse run from the tab upward or toward the top ofthe book, while those for the left hand run from the tab down or toward the bottom of the book. These cutaways may show the second letter only of the indexed name or title, the second and third letters thereof, or, as in Jones, Brown, Smith, and such common names, the whole of such indexed name.

In commercial indexes a strong but iiexible leaf is placed inside of and next to each of the covers of the index and extends somewhat beyond the edge of the covers for'the purpose of assisting either hand in opening the index at the required page. This is not new in a single index, and it is not here claimed.

An index which can be referred to with equal facility by either hand is particularly desirable for commercial use. The book-keeper is not obliged to lay aside his pen to manipulate the index, his left hand readily finding the desired page, while his right enters the same on the journal or cash-book. Thus,while time and trouble are saved, no occasion is l. In an index of book form in which more than a single leaf is devoted to one index-letter, two sets of exposed initial index-letters applied to the sarnc margin of the book, a given-letter of one set being applied (for right hand use) to the left surface of the right-hand leaf of the folio in which the entries under ai i 364,338

Suid letter are to begin', and the saine" letter of l near the' initial letter the other set being applied (for left-hand use) to the right surface of the left-hand leaf of the folio in which the entries under said letter are to end, whereby the index may be opened at any letter with equal convenience by either hand.

2. In an index provided with two sets of exposed initial letters for right and left hand use, substantially as set forth, two sets of eut- :Lwnys for the exposure. of sub-index letters when the book is open, each cutaway starting to which it refers, and those eutaways for use with the right hand running in a direction opposite to that of the eutaways for use with the left hand, substan` tially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR M. DAYTON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FISHER, CHARLES F. LANGDON. 

